Taiwan shows its prowess as World #4 in machine tool exports

The following videos are all high-definition (e.g. make sure to select 720p for the YouTube video in the bottom right-hand corner), widescreen, and in English. Each one is only a few minutes long. The videos provide a comprehensive and entertaining look at Taiwan's machine tool industry. For anyone interested in technology, I highly recommend watching them.

General overview of Taiwan's machine tool industry:

The following videos have a similar format. The first two-thirds of each video discuss the outstanding technical features of the machine tool. For an ordinary person like myself, it is the last third of the video with action-packed footage that I find the most interesting.

The 2011 Taipei International Machine Tool Show (TIMTOS 2011) will take place at TWTC Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) Exhibitions Hall 1, 2, 3 and the Nangang Exhibition Center from March 1 to 6, 2011.

The biennial exhibition has already become a focus for international buyers, and the upcoming 15th TIMTOS is sure to be a prominent international event in the industry. The machine tool industry forms a crucial element in Taiwanâ€™s machinery industry; in addition, Taiwan is currently the worldâ€™s 4th largest manufacturer of machine tool. This yearâ€™s exhibition is centered on the procurement of top-quality â€œMade in Taiwanâ€ machine tool and total solution for machine industry.

After the successful turnout in 2009 and to stimulate more inspiration under the economic crisis worldwide, TAITRA determines to contribute more efforts for continuing the glory of TIMTOS in 2011. It provides a vertically-integrated window on the top industry players and offering buyers unparalleled convenience. The event is estimated to provide spaces and opportunities for over 910 exhibitors, 4,500 booths and 44,500 visitors, so further interaction and exploration can be achieved through the period of March 1-6, 2011!

We sincerely welcome you to join us to exhibit the latest products and demonstrate the most up-to-date technologies. Please find the showâ€™s Application Kit from our website. Should you have any queries or require further assistance, please feel free to contact me (email: [email protected]) at any time. Our overseas branch offices will also be more than happy to help you (check your closest contact at: ???????????? Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)).

"Next Generation of GPS about to Blast Off
by Tony Sagami on June 2, 2010

Tony Sagami

On May 14, the space shuttle Atlantis blasted off for its 32nd and last mission. The Atlantis has flown to the Mir space station seven times and the International Space Station 11 times.

The Atlantis shuttle has ventured into space and returned with troves of scientific information and I still get goose bumps when I watch a shuttle launch. It is with a twinge of sadness to know that the Endeavour is scheduled to fly the last mission of the space shuttle program in November.

The space shuttles may grab most of the space headlines, but they are hardly the only things being shot into space.

It didnâ€™t get a lot of media attention, but the United States Air Force launched the first of an advanced new fleet of navigation satellites last week.

New GPS satellites are about to be launched into orbit.

This new generation of satellites, built by Boeing, will enhance the current GPS fleet by adding 12 more GPS satellites to replace the current ones that are nearing the end of their service life, as well as dramatically enhance the capabilities of GPS systems. GPS networks will now offer ultra-precise navigation and near-instantaneous information.

â€œThese next-generation satellites provide improved accuracy through advanced atomic clocks; a more jam-resistant military signal and a longer design life than earlier GPS satellites; and a new civil signal that benefits aviation safety and search-and-rescue efforts,â€ said Craig Cooning of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems, which built the new satellite.

The GPS satellite network was originally developed for the U.S. military, but has since found use for a wide range of commercial applications.

â€œGPS 2F will increase the signal power, precision and capacity of the system, and form the core of the GPS constellation for years to come. It has twice the signal accuracy of previous navigation satellites,â€ said Air Force spokesman Commander Colonel David Madden.

The current network of satellites orbits the globe 14 times a day, but has gaps in coverage as the signal is passed from satellite to satellite. After the launch of the 12 new generation satellites, the signal will be continuous and very close to instantaneous.

10 PRACTICAL GPS USES
1. Keep track of where your children and the car they are driving are.
2. Monitor the location of elderly members of your family, so that they donâ€™t wander off alone.
3. Plan a road trip around interesting points of interests, landmarks, campsites, and restaurants.
4. Get emergency roadside assistance at a touch of a button from your vehicle.
5. Find lost pets easily using collars with built-in GPS.
6. Emergency personnel can quickly locate you when you call 911 on your cell phone.
7. Get directions and find shortcuts.
8. Find the closest Chinese, Italian, seafood, or sushi restaurant.
9. Track your luggage, laptops, and anything of importance while traveling.
10. Find family or friends in a crowd.

One Asian company is positioned to prosper from this improved GPS coverage. Iâ€™m talking about Garmin (Nasdaq:GRMN).

Garmin isnâ€™t a household name, but it is global leader in portable and fixed-mount GPS-enabled products geared for the aviation, automotive, boating, and outdoor recreational markets. Itâ€™s even got GPS systems for cyclists, runners, and dogs.

Dogs? You bet. Hunting is really big in Montana and I have one friend who has spent more than $10,000 on training classes for his dogs. The last thing he wants is for one of his prized boys to run off into the woods never to be found again. His solution is the Garmin Astro GPS device that can tell him where his dog is by simply following a little animated dog icon on the small handheld screen.

Garmin is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, but its main manufacturing and research center is in Taiwan, which is why it hit my Asian radar screen.

Garmin is a global leader in GPS-enable products.

When it comes to GPS systems, Garmin absolutely dominates the U.S. market with a 60% market share and a 20% market share in Europe.

Thatâ€™s like money in the bank because the application, market, and profits from GPS-enabled systems are going to explode. GPS technology has been used for military and aviation uses for years, but the potential in the gigantic consumer market has yet to be tapped.

According to Morningstar, the total market for personal navigation devices is forecast to triple in the next five years, but even that optimistic forecast may be too low.

Garmin has a stranglehold on the automotive navigation segment, which accounts for more than half of its annual sales.

Ford and Chrysler offer Garmin personal navigation devices in their cars, as well as almost the entire rental car market: Avis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Dollar-Thrifty, National, and Alamo.

Plus, Garmin has built powerful distribution relationships for its portable GPS with established companies like Target, Best Buy, and Wal-Mart plus original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Ford, BMW, Honda Motorcycles, Cessna, Piper, and Premier Marine.

The application for GPS technology is still in its infancy and has only recently become available in cell phones. I expect the new USAF satellites to accelerate that marriage between cell phones and GPS service and the cell phone market could become even bigger than the automobile market for Garmin.

Garmin pays a $1.50 annual dividend, which works out to more than a 4% yield, sells for less than 10 times earnings, has ZERO debt, and $1.3 billion ($6.58 per share) of cash.

Should you rush and buy Garmin today? You need to do your own homework, but the new generation of GPS satellites is going to help make Garmin products better, more valuable, and ultimately generate bigger profits.